Most Commented Stories Tagged: research

Updated

10/05/2015 - 9:45am

Not long after the shooting in Charleston, a US House of Representatives committee rejected a measure that would have allowed the CDC to conduct research into gun violence, leaving intact a ban pushed by the NRA back in the 1990s. That leads to odd gun violence reports that are not about guns.

Plants have senses that put humans to shame. Not only do they hear (yes, it's true) and smell, they can also sense the presence of water, and even an object in their space. Now new research suggests that plants can actually learn and remember.

The conversation about events in Ferguson involves race, but maybe not in the way you think. While a new study showed that most white Americans don't have non-white friends, many people say it shouldn't be taken as an indicator of personal racism but rather large-scale issues that deserve the real attention.

Since shortly after World War II, fluoride has been added to water in the US to help strengthen children’s teeth. Today it comes out of the taps in about two-thirds of America’s households. Yet it remains a highly controversial subject.

The new NOVA special, "Vaccines: Calling the Shots," explores the lingering global resistance to vaccination campaigns. Case studies from around the world explain just how bad the impact can be when groups opt out of childhood shots.

For decades, people have been focused on MSG as a source of health problems and allergic reactions, based on scant but seemingly compelling evidence, No research, though, pokes giant holes in those previous studies and suggests MSG is no worse than any other food additive.

Updated

05/04/2015 - 3:45pm

The scientific consensus around Alzheimer's disease says it's caused by proteins called beta-amyloids that build up on the brain and destroy its normal functions. But one man, Duke professor Allen Roses, has made it his mission to prove that the conventional wisdom is wrong.

The movement to legalize marijuana for medical use continues to gain momentum in the US. Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia have approved marijuana for medical use and a handful of states allow recreational use of the drug. As the debate continues, one surprising fact emerges: There is no strong scientific evidence to support the arguments of either side.

Updated

02/26/2015 - 10:30am

There may be a counterintuitive explanation for the deep freeze that hit New England this winter: The rapidly warming Arctic is causing big disruptions in the jet stream, which carries weather across North America. Is this the worst winter you've experienced?